Rotary printing machine with reversible printing unit



May 27, 1952 w. F. HUCK ET AL ROTARY PRINTING MACHINE WITH REVERSIBLEPRINTING UNIT Original Filed Feb. 15, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 1- n I x INVETORS William I? Huck Anton .Stahb WWW V/ BN5 y 1952 w. F. HUCK r:r AL2,597,932

ROTARY PRINTING MACHINE WITH REVERSIBLE PRINTING UNIT Original FiledFeb. 15, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Wflb'am F Huck Anton .SZabb y 1952 w. F.HUCK ET AL 2,597,932

ROTARY PRINTING MACHINE WITH REVERSIBLE PRINTING UNIT Original FiledFeb. 15, 1945 6 Sheets-Shed; 3

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INVENTORS g I In/FJJ/am E Hunk 45 Ammz 5102711 1 I A can Y5 y 1952 w. F.HUCK El AL 2,597,932.

ROTARY PRINTING MACHINE WITH REVERSIBLE PRINTING UNIT Original FiledFeb. 15, 1945 G'Sheets-Sheet 4 Q3 K M) y 27, 1952 w. F. HUCK El AL2,597,932

ROTARY PRINTING MACHINE WITH REVERSIBLE PRINTING UNIT Original FiledFeb. 15, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 II I Y INVENTORS' /7 Tnfillz'am 1"? Huck/7; Azmm 5101111 2,597,932 'RoTARY PRINTING MACHINE WITH REVERSIBLEPRINTING UNIT "May 27, 1952 w. F. HUCK El AL 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 OriginalFiled Feb. 15, 1945 INVENTORS Wdliazzz E Huck .Anfun 5101111 TORNEY Sand holes 34 in the top portion of the columns 26, and the spacers 28receive bolts 35 which engage nuts 35 in the slots 33 to fasten theframes 44a and 44b to the substructure. Due to the longitudinallyextending slots 33, the printing units [1, I8 and I9 can be positionedat any desired location, lengthwise of the printing machine, and withrespect to the columns 25. Cap members Ala and 41b, forming the top ofthe side frames 44a and 44?: respectively, are formed with posts 29 onwhich rest the web forwarding units 2I and other superstructure members38 and 39. The outward-facing sides of the frames 44a and 46b are closedby a plurality of removable covers 52, 53 and 54. Some of the covers, asfor example the cover 52, are provided with cover plates such as 56 thatcan be removed to give access to certain portions of the internalmechanism. Adjacent printing units are spaced lengthwise of the printingmachine by box-type front and rear spacers 37a and 31?) (Figure 4),which rest on the front and rear columns 26 and spacers 28. The lowerportion 49 of the front frame 46a is formed with a plurality of verticalribs 59 which support bearings for the horizontal drive shaft 22.

The lower portions of the frame Illa and of the frame 44b of eachprinting units are preferably connected by flanged tubular members 57attached to the frame members by bolts 58. Between the front and rearspacers 31a and 37b, a motor 59 is supported by brackets SI secured tothe adjacent tubular members 51. The front end of the motor 59 isprovided with a flange B2, and secured to the front spacer 37a. Aventilating hood 63 and an air duct 64 extend from the rear of the motorand through the rear spacer 31b as shown in Figure 4. Preferably the airducts for each motor 59 will be connected to a supply of cool air from ablower, not shown.

The main line shaft 22, composed of a plurality of shaft sections 66(Figure 4), joined by couplings 61, extends the complete length of theprinting machine and is journaled in parts of the lower portion of eachfront frame 44a and in the front spacers 31a. The shaft 22 is driven byeach motor 59 through bevel gears 68 and 89 secured to the motor shaft'II and a shaft 22 section respectively. The main line shaft 22 drivesthe various printing units 1?, I8 and I9 through bevel gears I2, I3, I4,and 18. The shaft 22 also by a pair of bevel gears I6, drives ahorizontal cross shaft (not shown). The horizontal shaft, by a pair ofbevel gears drives a vertical shaft ll which in turn, drives rollerscarried by the superstructure. The bevel gears 13 and "for driving thereversible unit I9 are rotatably mounted on the main line shaft 22 andare both in mesh with a large bevel gear 18 (Figures 1 and 4). The gears'13 and M each have a coupling face 81 and 19 respectively which isengaged alternatively by a double ended coupling member 82 that may movelengthwise of the shaft 22 but is keyed against rotation thereon. Whenthe coupling member 82 is moved lengthwise of the shaft to engage thecoupling face I9, the cylinders of the printing unit I9 will be drivenin one direction, and when the coupling member is moved to engage thecoupling face 8!, the printing unit cylinders will be driven in theopposite direction. As herein shown, the double ended coupling member 82of the reversible printing unit I9 is operated by mechanism including ashaft 83 (Figure 2), carried by the cover plate 54 and having a wrenchengaging portion 84. Secured to the lower end of the shaft 83 is a lever86 that pivotally supports a yoke 81 engaging the coupling member 82.Turning the shaft 83 by a wrench (not shown), moves the coupling member82 lengthwise of the main shaft 22 and connects it to either the gear 33or gear i l, and thereby drives the reversible printing unit in eitherdirection desired. The units If and I3 are driven by the gear '52,permanently secured to the shaft 22 and in mesh with gears 18. Eachbevel gear 13 is secured to a cross shaft 88 (Figures 2 and 4) thatcarries a web guiding roller 89. The shaft 88 is journaled in bearings9| and 92 that are secured to the front and rear frames. A drivingsprocket wheel 93 secured near the rear end of the shaft 88 cooperateswith a chain 94 (Figures l, 2 and 3), to drive each printing unitthrough a driven sprocket wheel 9'6 supported on an impression cylindershaft 91. Sprocket wheels E38 and It)! are supported from the rear frameand are equipped with an eccentric type tightening means We operated bya wrench 99 for tightening or loosening the chain as desired. The chain94 is carried from the driving sprocket wheel 93 to the sprocket wheel98, then to the driven sprocket wheel 96, then to the sprocket wheelIfil, and then back to the sprocket wheel 93 in such a manner that allthe parts are contained within the frame enclosure. This permits theopening 4| in the center of the frame entirely free of operatingmechanism.

The shaft 88 also carries a bevel gear I92 (Figures 2 and 4) on itsextreme rear portion. The gear I02 cooperates with a bevel gear I63secured to one end of a diagonally extending shaft Ififi (Figure 1), theother end of which is connected to drive belts If)? of the webtensioning mechanism It, through a pair of bevel gears in a gear boxI96.

Each printing unit Ii, I8 and I9 has two printing couples composed ofcylinders HEB-I23 and II3I22 respectively. The shaft 91 (Figure 3),which is journaled in the main front and rear frame members Ma and 44bin addition to carrying the driven sprocket 96, and the impressioncylinder IE8, has a helical gear I99 slidable axially on the shaft 97(Figure 7), but secured against rotation thereon. The gear [09, when inthe position shown in Figure 3, meshes with a second helical gear IIImounted on the back end of a shaft 2 of the second impression cylinderH3. Helical gears H4 and H6, secured to the front ends of the impressioncylinder shafts H2 and 91, are each in mesh with helical gears H9 andI2I secured to the front ends of shafts I24 and I26 for driving the formcylinders I22 and I23 respectively. The shafts I21 and I26, that arejournaled in the front and rear frame mem-: bers 44a and 4% each carryat their rear end, a helicalgear I21 for driving inking cylinders I28and I22 of the printing unit in a well known manner. For example, eachgear I2? is in mesh I32, I33 and I32. The shafts I35 and I36 of the.

inki'ng cylinders are provided with a reciprocat ing 'meehanism-- I=3-1preferablyconstructed accordzrncewith Patent 'No. 2,282,655 issuedMa-y12, 1942. The driving mechanism is all f-ully-'en'-- closed by theframes, and it is lubricated b'yan 5 oil circulating system (not shown)having a gauge-I46 (Figure'z) for'indicatingthe oilpres surezr Theinking rollers I68 and I39 (Figure-2) are preferably= supported fromaplurality creambrackets: I more= f-ull'y 'shown and described in: a.-pending application, Serial Number 441091,- filed: June 15, 1942; whichhas become. Patent New 2338-39-70,- issued -September 4-, 1945';

An ink pump- I42, preferably of the type shown a pending application;Serial No. 513,038; filed Jannary 16;.1945i; which has b'ecome PatentNor.2.46.9;79fi, 1ssued'May 10', 19249, is employed theresheingone foreach printingrcouple: The;v

I42 driventhroughza pinion; I 41 which:

meshes; withithe gear: H9; (Figure- 2);. Avclutch I56,having:ansoperating;handle I256. connects a. shaft; I:4.3,.. which;carries. a. bevel-1 gear, I44. and has as wrench:v engaging portion.I46, withv the pinion I141". A bevel. gear, I48: in meshwith' gearvI,44;-;is;. carried: on. a: shaft; I149; which. drives; the. ink pumpI42;.. The ink pump-is. supportedton-la, bracket. I 5| having. lugs: I52slidablyntted to; they frontaunit,framemember-Mot.v An. ink; rail I53;

through-vwhich:inkissupplied. to the inkcyli'nder I 2,9,, is;.securedto, thebracket-r I51," and apair of: fluidpressure' cylinders; I 54are:provided for rais ingand loweringgtheiink rail I 5,9;with; the bracketI51; and. the, pump I42 attachedlthereto.

To. reverse the direction: of; rotation of the impression cylinderI:I-3: andtheform cylinderv I22. Qfthe-printingunit I9, with respect tothe; rotation" of: cylinders I68 and: I23 respectively, the-helical-gearI09 (Figures .3, and-,7?) is;slip.pedvv outiof; engagementwiththeyimpressiorr cylinder cludes a sleeve I66 (Figure'l), having aflange I59 and-secured to the end of the shaft 91 bya.-.- key I66; andthe sprocket wheel 96 has an internal. bore I61 which-is fitted to theoutside of the. sleeve- I66. Anend plate I63 is" secured to-theend ofthe shaft91- by a plurality of bolts 5 I64;- and' a shear pin I66 drivesthe plate I63 and causesthe shaftS-L to-rotate'with the driven sprocketwheel 96. A collar I69 carried within the recess I51, on a hub I12 ofthe sprocket 96, has an outside diameter equal to the outside diameterof the flange I59 and the collar I69 has a flange I1I.

The collar I69 is secured to the sleeve I66 by a plurality of bolts I13screw threaded into the flange I59, and the periphery of the flange I1!has notches I14 each acting as a bearing for a shaft I16. Small sprocketwheels I11 are secured to the shafts I16, and a bicycle type chain I8I(Figure 8) is led about the sprockets. Each shaft I16 is provided withcollars I82 and I83 positioned to engage opposite sides of the flangeHI, and also has a threaded stem I84 that is screwed into a threadedhole in the gear I69. One of the shafts I14 is formed with a squared endI86 for receiving a wrench I81 (Figure '1), 7

which after removing-a h nd 'hole cover I? be-passedthrougha holed 88 inthelarge sprocketi wheel 96; when thesprocket wheelie-turned tobring-the holeopposite-the-hand holes When: the sprockets I11 arerotatedin-,.one' direct-lam. the gear wheel I0'9 ismoved out of engagement withthe gear wheel M I and .ispulled into .thee recess I51 in the-"sprocket.wheel-9'6. Rotating-the sprockets I1 1 theaopposite direction: causes-jthe gear I0 9tomove 'ou't of the recess}. I51 ancl r into engagementwith the gear: III a The mechanism-by. which the gear Ifili is-slippedinto and out-of meshwith the -gears-I- I4 and- I I6 of the twoimpression cylinders II 3 and 1 06;: in? cludes (Figures 3, S and: 69 afianged' stud" Isle secured: to thef-ront frame 440:. bY-bOltsr I 92?The stud I91 at its unflanged end; is" bifurcated toe form twoseml-cylindricar fork members I 93 and I94 eachofiwhich near-its outer'end is provided with aninternalshoulder- I 96 and 'an externally;threaded portion I91. A sleeve I96; longitudi nally slidable; on thestud- I 92; carries the-inner race of" two ball bearings I99, theouterraces ofwhiclrcarry the slip gear I58; Thelett hand end ofthe-collarI98, as seenin Figure 5; is secured by screws 291 to aspecially formednut=-262 "post-- tioned' in the slot formed by-the fork-members 693* andI94. The nut 262 is engaged-bya'screwifle having: awren'ch engagingportion204 and a collar 2665' The serew fli-ii -is -preventedfromlongitud-inal'movement in-one direction'by a cap 'nut; 208, that is screwedto---the-- threaded-portion I911 and held from movement intheopposite-dime tion-by a sleeve 261} that abuts the shoulder I963Turn-ing-= the screw- 263- causes the; sleeve: I98'-"and-" the-gear I5600- move axially alongthe stud" F91 andthus engage ordisengage the slipgear with: thetwo gear Htand, H6.

Figure 9 shows-a perspective view oftheoutsidev ofoneof theprinting-units, Withthe cover-broken away; thedri-ving mechanismsremoved andpsome of-the cylinder shafts cut ofi to'better show the;construction-of'th'efront-box-type sideframe 44a.- in the lower portionof which the line shaft .22

45 andits-associatedmembers is carried. Thisvie'w also showsthe'coverof,the inkpump ['42 through which the regulating screws project, and shows.hinged outside cylinder-guard panels 228.}. 2219... and 236; and similarinside panel 231i and 2.32,.

These panels extend between the front and back, frames andareiarrangedi'to be swung out of. the.

way to: give access to. the, cylinders and. inking; mechanism for minoradjustments, and, are; readily removable.

As each; Web. 2,6,.- leaves. the web: supply 111661134? nism, it iscarriedby, thefusual. guide rollers; to

the printing cylinders, and, aseach. printed-,-web-;= 20' leaves.v itsprinting unit' it is: led. about. guide rollers 2 II to one of the webforwarding units 2I, each of which may include a web propelling roller2I2, one or more slitters 2I3, turning bars 2I1, and guide rollers, asrequired. The web forwarding units 2| are similar in construction andare stacked one upon another. In each unit 2I the web propelling roller2| 2 cooperates with the slitting knife 2I3 to drive the Web and to slitit into two ribbons 2I4 and 2|6. The ribbon 2I4 from each web, passesover turning bars 2H and thereby is aligned with the ribbon 2 I6.

The ribbons then pass over guide rollers and about other web propellingrollers 2l8 and are carried to the folder 23. Other ribbons 2 I 9, fromprinting units not shown, also pass over rollers 22I and web propellingrollers 222 and then are carried to the folder 23. The web propellingroll-- ers are driven by means of the vertical shaft 11, from the maindrive shaft by the bevel gears 16. The shaft H is geared to a pair ofhorizontal shafts 223 and 224, which in turn drive the several webpropelling rollers 2 Ill and 222, and the horizontal shaft 224 is alsoconnected by a pair of bevel gears 226, to a vertical shaft 221fordriving the web propelling rollers 212,

From the foregoing description it is evident that a printing machine forsimultaneously printing any desired number of webs can be assembled,using the required number of printing units, folders andother unit partsherein disclosed. The substructure can be assembled using front and backcolumns 26, for supporting the web roll reels I5, each below itsprinting unit, and front and back horizontal spacers 28, used wherenecessary for spacing the web roll reels, and below the folders. Thereels require more space longitudinally of the machine than the printingunits, and hence the reels and units are not vertically aligned, but thetension controlling mechanism for each reel is driven by its associatedprinting unit by using a connecting shaft we of suitable length. Alsoany member of web forwarding rails 2| as required may be stacked inorder to associate all of the webs to be printed and forwarded to theadjacent folder. I

It is also evident that with printing units having the box-type of frameherein disclosed, in which the driving mechanism is all within the framestructure, a wide opening is left through the center of the frame onboth sides of the machine, making all of the rollers and cylinders ofeach unit far more accessible than in conventional printing units, andmaking it much easier to thread a web through the machine. Furthermore,the location of the controls for the ink pumps and the mechanism forreversing the cylinders, and for adjusting the chain, all beingaccessible from the outside of the frame, contribute to making theprinting unit herein disclosed much more convenient to operate than anyheretofore known.

It is also evident that the printing machine disclosed can be operatedwith covers removed to expose any or all of the gearing and driveshafts. This is possible, because all of the shafts, gearing, and othermoving parts are supported from main frame members and not by thecovers. The arrangement is especially advantageous when the machine isbeing assembled, and when it is desirable to observe the mechanism inoperation.

It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in otherspecific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributesthereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment beconsidered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive,reference being made to the claims rather than to the foregoing ofindividual printing units, one of the printing.

units comprising a first impression cylinder have ing a shaft, asprocket wheel carried by the shaft fordriving the same and having arecess, a first gear on the shaft and secured against rotation relativethereto, a second gear fixed on the shaft, a second impression cylinderhaving a shaft and a first and second gear fixed on the shaft of thesecond impression cylinder; reversing mechanism comprising a means forslidably moving the first gear of the first impression cylinder out ofmesh with the first gear of the second impression cylinder and into therecess in the sprocket wheel, and a slip gear slidably mounted formovement into engagement with the second gear of each of the impressioncylinders.

2. In a printing machine having a plurality of individual printing unitseach having a pair of box-type side frames, at least one of the printingunits having a first impression cylinder shaft, a sprocket wheel carriedby the shaft for driving thesame and having a recess, a first gear onthe shaft and secured against relative rotation thereto, a second gearfixed on the shaft, 2. second impression cylinder shaft and a first anda second gear fixed on the second impression cylinder shaft; reversingmechanism comprising means for slidably moving the first gear on thefirst impression cylinder shaft out of mesh with the first gear on thesecond impression cylinder shaft and into the recess in the sprocketwheel, and a slip gear slidably mounted for movement into engagementwith the second gears of the first and second impression cylinders, allof the said gears and sprockets being positioned within the box-typeside frames.

WILLIAM F. I-IUCK. ANTON STOBB.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Worthington Aug. 24,

